Reutilization of chemical waste in methodologies for analyses of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber

The disposal of chemical waste and the precision of analyses of the neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fiber contents were evaluated utilizing conventional (Van Soest) and alternative methods of analyses. The recovery of acetone promoted both economic and environmental gains, with a recovery rate of 84.12%. The precision of the analyses was not observed in most of the determinations with reutilization of chemical waste in all the analytical methods tested, in spite of promoting decrease in cost, time invested in the preparation of solutions and the disposal of chemical waste.

Long-Lasting Oscillations in the Electro-Oxidation of Formic Acid on PtSn Intermetallic Surfaces

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Thermoplastic polyesters and Co-polyesters derived from vegetable oil: synthesis and optimization of melt polycondensation for medium and long chain poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s and their ester derivatives

The synthesis of a series of omega-hydroxyfatty acid (omega-OHFA) monomers and their methyl ester derivatives (Me-omega-OHFA) from mono-unsaturated fatty acids and alcohols via ozonolysis-reduction/crossmetathesis reactions is described. Melt polycondensation of the monomers yielded thermoplastic poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s [-(CH2)(n)-COO-](x) with medium (n = 8 and 12) and long (n = 17) repeating monomer units. The omega-OHFAs and Me-omega-OHFAs were all obtained in good yield (>= 80%) and purity (>= 97%) as established by H-1 NMR, Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The average molecular size (M-n) and distribution (PDI) of the poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s (P(omega-OHFA)s) and poly(omega-hydroxyfatty ester) s (P(Me-omega-OHFA) s) as determined by GPC varied with organo-metallic Ti(IV) isopropoxide [Ti(OiPr)(4)] polycondensation catalyst amount, reaction time and temperature. An optimization of the polymerization process provided P(omega-OHFA) s and P(Me-omega-OHFA) s with M-n and PDI values desirable for high end applications. Co-polymerization of the long chain (n = 12) and medium chain (n = 8) Me-omega-OHFAs by melt polycondensation yielded poly(omega-hydroxy tridecanoate/omega-hydroxy nonanoate) random co-polyesters (M-n = 11000- 18500 g mol(-1)) with varying molar compositions.

Oral acetylsalicylic acid and prevalence of actinic keratosis

Objective: To investigate the influence of a regular oral use of acetylsalicylic acid in the prevalence of actinic keratosis.Methods: A case-control study with dermatologic outpatients above 50 years of age assessed between 2009 and 2011. Cases were defined as those who had been under regular use of oral acetylsalicylic acid for more than six consecutive months. The assessment focused on: age, sex, skin-type, tobacco smoking, use of medication, occurrence of individual or family skin cancer, and sunscreen and sun exposure habits. Actinic keratoses were counted in the medial region of the face and upper limbs. Counts were adjusted by co-variables based on a generalized linear model.Results: A total of 74 cases and 216 controls were assessed. The median time of acetylsalicylic acid use was 36 months. Cases differed from controls as to the highest age, highest prevalence of use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and fewer keratosis on the face and on the upper limbs (p < 0.05). The multivariate model showed that the use of acetylsalicylic acid was associated to lower counts of face actinic keratosis and upper-limb erythematous actinic keratosis (p < 0.05), regardless of other risk factors.Conclusion: The regular use of oral acetylsalicylic acid for more than six months was associated to a lower prevalence of actinic keratosis, especially facial and erythematous ones.

The time course of aggressive behaviour in juvenile matrinxa Brycon amazonicus fed with dietary L-tryptophan supplementation

This study evaluated the influence of dietary L-tryptophan (TRP) supplementation on the time course of aggressive behaviour and on neuroendocrine and hormonal indicators in juvenile matrinxA Brycon amazonicus. Supplementation with TRP promoted a change in the fight pattern at the beginning of an interaction with an intruder, resulting in decreased aggressive behaviours during the first 20min. The decrease in aggression did not persist throughout the interaction but increased at 3 and 6h after the beginning of the fight. Monoamine levels in the hypothalamus were not influenced by TRP before or after the fight; however, the hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) concentration and the 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5HIAA):5-HT ratio were significantly correlated with the reduction in aggressive behaviour at the beginning of the fight. Cortisol was not altered by TRP before the fight. After the fight cortisol increased to higher levels in B. amazonicus fed with supplementary TRP. These results indicate that TRP supplementation alters the aggressive behaviour of B. amazonicus and that this effect is limited to the beginning of the fight, suggesting a transient effect of TRP on aggressive behaviour. This is the first study reporting the effects of TRP supplementation on the time course of aggressive interaction in fishes. (C) 2013 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Eichhornia crassipes: an advantageous source of shikimic acid

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Growth and yield of anthurium in response to gibberellic acid

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Osmotic dehydration of mango with ascorbic acid impregnation: influence of process variables

The present study investigated the osmotic dehydration (OD) of mangoes cv.Palmer, dehydrated in a sucrose solution with added ascorbic acid (AA), aiming toevaluate the influence of the process variables (sucrose concentration, AA concen-tration and time) on vitamin C, water, sugars and total phenolic compound (TPC)contents by way of an analysis of the effects and the variance of the factors. Thesucrose concentration did not affect the vitamin C content, but the AA concentra-tion in the solution and the process time exerted a positive influence on thisresponse. The addition of AA also presented a significant positive effect on theTPC contents because this vitamin interferes with the quantification of the TPC.On discounting the interferences, no losses of phenolic compounds were found.Impregnation with vitamin C during OD was shown to be effective in obtainingminimally processed mangoes with high nutritional value.

Improved pretreatments applied to the sugarcane bagasse and release of lignin and hemicellulose from the cellulose-enriched fractions by sulfuric acid hydrolysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Clinical protocol for esthetic restoration using a self-etching adhesive

The advent of new adhesive systems is making techniques and clinical protocols to become faster and simpler, however it does not reduce the importance of knowledge of the properties, characteristics and interaction of dental materials with the tooth structure. Among the adhesives that have recently emerged, highlight the self-etching systems, especially the two-step selfetching, in which the acid primer is available in a separate bottle from the adhesive. These adhesives have shown good results for bond strength, microleakage and postoperative sensitivity, being an option for direct adhesive restorations in anterior teeth. This way, the present case report describes the step-by-step making of a class IV restoration in an upper right central incisor using atwo-step adhesive system, obtaining satisfactory results.

Effect of composite surface treatment and aging on the bond strength between a core build-up composite and a luting agent

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of conditioning methods and thermocycling on the bond strength between composite core and resin cement. Material and Methods: Eighty blocks (8x8x4 mm) were prepared with core build-up composite. The cementation surface was roughened with 120-grit carbide paper and the blocks were thermocycled (5,000 cycles, between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C, with a 30 s dwell time in each bath). A layer of temporary luting agent was applied. After 24 h, the layer was removed, and the blocks were divided into five groups, according to surface treatment: (NT) No treatment (control); (SP) Grinding with 120-grit carbide paper; (AC) Etching with 37% phosphoric acid; (SC) Sandblasting with 30 mm SiO2 particles, silane application; (AO) Sandblasting with 50 mu m Al2O3 particles, silane application. Two composite blocks were cemented to each other (n=8) and sectioned into sticks. Half of the specimens from each block were immediately tested for microtensile bond strength (mu TBS), while the other half was subjected to storage for 6 months, thermocycling (12,000 cycles, between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C, with a dwell time of 30 s in each bath) and mu TBS test in a mechanical testing machine. Bond strength data were analyzed by repeated measures two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (alpha=0.05). Results: The mu TBS was significantly affected by surface treatment (p=0.007) and thermocycling (p=0.000). Before aging, the SP group presented higher bond strength when compared to NT and AC groups, whereas all the other groups were statistically similar. After aging, all the groups were statistically similar. SP submitted to thermocycling showed lower bond strength than SP without thermocycling. Conclusion: Core composites should be roughened with a diamond bur before the luting process. Thermocycling tends to reduce the bond strength between composite and resin cement.

Glycerol combined with oils did not limit biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acid but reduced methane production in vitro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Hydrophobicity and antioxidant activity acting together for the beneficial health properties of nordihydroguaiaretic acid

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Rapid synthesis of Mn3O4 powder from pyro-synthesis of ethylene glycol-metal nitrate precursor assisted by nitric acid

The rapid synthesis of Mn3O4 powders by a two-step process of pyro-synthesis of ethylene glycol-metal nitrate precursor assisted by nitric acid is reported. A new strategy that accelerates the synthesis and allows obtaining highly pure crystalline Mn3O4 is discussed. The structural and morphological characteristics of the Mn3O4 powders are presented and discussed. The mechanism of formation of the Mn3O4 is also discussed. In comparison with other synthesis methods, the present method shows that the proposed route of synthesis has the main advantage of high production of the powder material in a very short time.

In vitro effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 and MMP-9) and their inhibitor (TIMP-1) in lipopolysaccharide-activated human monocytes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)